Sterol/stanol claim can be used with food supplements

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) article 14 opinion that has formed the basis of the now authorised EU-wide claim states that a general cholesterol-lowering effect that can be utilised by products that contain plant sterols/stanols and reference a consumption level of 2g per day.

It is only the specific part of the claim that denotes that cholesterol levels can be lowered by between seven and 10.5 per cent that can be utilised by select food groups – namely margarine-type spreads, mayonnaise, salad dressings, and dairy products such as milk, yoghurts and low-fat yoghurts.

EFSA’s Panel on Dietetic Products Nutrition and Allergies noted in its opinion that, “​the efficacy of plant sterols/stanols added to other food formats is less well established.”​

The opinion can be found here​.

Dutch supplements manufacturer, Innoceutics, appealed the claim restriction but EFSA maintained its original view that the evidence was lacking for all food categories to make the more specific claim.

The appeal, and EFSA’s response, can be found here​.